No, spaying or neutering does not directly cause weight gain. Dogs around the age of spaying or neutering are entering adulthood, a time when they, like humans, might naturally put on a bit of extra weight. However, many spayed and neutered dogs maintain a healthy body condition with regular exercise and a balanced diet. We recommend monitoring your dog's food intake and adhering to the feeding guide provided with their food.

Yes, we provide a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication that should be given to your dog twice daily for a week to manage pain. This can be started the night of the operation or the following morning, depending on whether your dog stays overnight. Female dogs undergoing spaying usually stay overnight, while male dogs who are neutered can go home the same day.

The recovery period typically lasts about a week. We ask that you return with your dog a week after the procedure so we can check the incision and ensure everything is healing correctly. In rare cases, such as with older patients, the recovery might take slightly longer.

Yes, we provide discharge instructions for all of our spays and neuters. The veterinarian who conducts the procedure will also call you post-op to explain how the operation went and to discuss these instructions, which cover activity, cone usage, check-ups, and any other details relevant to your pet. We also provide written discharge instructions for you to review at your convenience.

Fading kitten syndrome is a failure to thrive in kittens from birth to about five weeks old. Symptoms include lethargy, eating little or only small amounts, or showing gastrointestinal signs. It can progress rapidly from mild weakness to death. If you suspect this syndrome, seek medical care immediately. It's often caused by bacteria, viruses, or intestinal parasites. If you're unsure or need peace of mind, please bring your kitten in so we can examine it.

Look for the kitten to want to eat a full meal every two to three hours and rest between periods of activity. If they're not eating or moving around, it could indicate a health concern.

If the mother appears healthy, grooming the kitten, and allowing it to nurse, you primarily need to keep her and the kitten safe, fed, and warm. However, if she seems ill or neglectful, you might need to step in and take over bottle feeding, keeping the kitten warm, grooming, bathing, and stimulating it to go to the bathroom.

For newborns up to about five weeks, you'll need to use a kitten milk replacer and bottle feed every two hours or more if the kitten is vocalizing and readily accepts the bottle. As the kitten ages, these feeding windows will gradually lengthen. For very young newborns, you'll also need to stimulate them to urinate and defecate.

If you take in an orphaned kitten or one with its mother, you can provide a heat source like a heating pad. Cover it with a blanket and ensure the kitten can move away from the heat to avoid overheating.

Absolutely, you can hold a newborn kitten. Just ensure you are very gentle and careful, and make sure not to drop it.